Stocking-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. DAWSON. STOCKING STRETGHER.

Patented Feb. '19, 1 95'.

INVENTOR WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

W. DAWSON. STOCKING STRETGHER.

Patented Feb. 19, 1895 WITNESSES INVENTOR j 1 cams PETERS co vnorauwa, wAsnmo'ro UNITED STATES? PATENT QFFICYE.

WILLIAM DAWSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOCKlNG-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,362, dated February 19, 1895.

Application filed February 21, 1894. Serial No. 500,960. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DAWSON, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stocking-Stretchers, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the frame having a stocking stretched thereon, as in the act of drying, the frame itself being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the frame with the stocking removed. Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, are detail views of certain portions of the device, which will be adverted to more particularly hereinafter.

The frame, A, having the general configuration proper for stretching a stocking during the act of drying, is composed of a metallic rod or heavy wire bent into the form indicated in the general view of Fig. 2, and having the cross-section shown in Fig. 8, the relatively sharp edge, A, being outward. To prevent rusting, the frame may be nickel plated.

Near the upper portion of the frame, A, is fixed a horizontal cross-bar, a. Above the cross-bar, a, the two sides of the frame are prolonged, as indicated at a, a, the inner face of the prolongations, a, being reduced in size and flattened somewhat, as indicated at a to form guides upon which the movable bar, B, slides vertically. Said bar, B, which I term the stretcher-bar, is provided with laterally projecting pins, 11, which may he formed of pieces of bent wire extending entirely through the bar and turned slightly upward, as indicated in Fig. 5. v

A rod, 0, which I term the locking-rod, passes through a hole, b, in the center of the stretcher-bar, B, and is provided with lateral projections, 0, immediately above and below said bar, which prevent longitudinal movement of the rod with relation to the bar, while permitting it to turn axially in the hole, I). The locking-rod, C, also passes through the cross-bar, a, and is adjustably connected therewith by means of the following devices:

At intervals upon the rod, 0, are formed lateral projections, or lugs, d, with flattened vertical sides, said lugs having the cross-section indicated, on an enlarged scale, in Fig. 4.

They may be conveniently formed by stamping up the metal of the rod on either side and leaving an intermediate portion, d, of the original diameter of the r0d,for strengthening purposes. The hole, E, in the center of the cross-band, through which the rod, 0, passes, has the configuration indicated in Fig. 7. The main portion, E, of said hole is cylindrical, but it is provided with lateral extensions, 6, whose depth corresponds with the extent of projection of the lugs, (1, upon the rod. When therefore the rod is in such a position that the lugs, d, lie in the plane of the extensions, e, the rod will move freely in a longitudinal direction through said hole; but when the rod is turned axially, so as to throw the lugs, 01, out of line with the extensions, e, said lugs will come in contact with the surface'of the cross-bar, a, and thus prevent the longitudinal movement of the rod. The distance between the respective sets of lugs must of course be not less than the vertical diameter of the cross-bar, a, and I prefer to arrange them at distances very slightly in excess of such diameter.

The upper end ofthe rod, 0, is provided 'with an eye or ring, D, which not only facilitates the turning and shifting of the rod,but serves as a means for suspending the frame from a hook.

The operation of the device is as follows: The frame is inserted in the stocking in the usual manner and the upper edge or margin of the latter is then impaled upon the pins, 12, the stretcher-bar, B, being shifted inward or into its lowest position, so as to permit subsequent stretching of the stocking. The locking-rod, O, is turned into the position indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 2, 'so as to throw the lugs, d, into line with the extensions, e, of the hole, E. The rod is then drawn upward or outward, carrying with it the stretcher-bar, B, and stretching the stocking lengthwise to the desired extent. Thereupon the rod, 0, is turned axially into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, and by the solid lines in Fig. 1, whereby the rod is locked against longitudinal movement and the stocking is held in this stretchedposition.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the ring or eye, D, now lies in the same plane with the general plane of the frame and stocking, so that it may be hung up against a wall.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A stretcher for stockings and the like comprising a body portion, a bar across said body portion, a stretcher bar having means for engaging the stocking, and means for adjusting the stretcher bar, said means including a rod rotatably mounted in said stretcher bar, said bar being constantly held at a fixed point on the rod, an irregular opening in the cross bar, the rod passing through said opening, and projections upon said rod corresponding in form to the opening in the cross bar substantially as described.

2. A stretcher for stockings and the like WM. DAWSON.

Witnesses:

J AMES H. BELL, G. HERBERT JENKINS. 

